Investigating the Association of Shock Index and Hemoglobin Variation With Postpartum Hemorrhage After Vaginal Deliveries

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, and is most commonly caused by poor uterine tone after delivery of the baby and placenta. Currently, a lack of early identification of PPH also results in delayed treatment, with an increase in morbidity. The investigators propose that 2 non-invasive methods may provide monitoring for early and accurate detection of PPH. These methods include shock index (SI) and continuous hemoglobin (Hb) monitoring. SI is defined as heart rate divided by systolic blood pressure, and can be used as a marker to predict the severity of hypovolemic shock. Continuous Hb monitoring can now be done using a non-invasive probe that is placed on the patient's finger. It provides real-time Hb values, rather than having to draw blood and wait for a lab test. The investigators hypothesize that SI will have a stronger association with postpartum blood loss than Hb variation.